Measuring valve for centralized lubricating systems



Jan. 20, 1953 w. SCHMID 2,626,014

MEASURING VALVE FOR CENTRALIZED LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 24, 1949 5 Sheefcs-Sheet l Gib V 5 Jan. 20, 1953 SCHMID 2,626,014

MEASURING VALVE FOR CENTRALIZED LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 24, 1949 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII W. SCHMlD Jan. 20, 1953 MEASURING VALVE FOR CENTRALIZED LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 24, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllllllllllllllllllll Patented Jan. 20, 19 3 MEASURING VALVE FOR CENTRALIZED LUBRICATING SYSTEMS Walter Schmid, Chicago, IlL, assignor to Stewart- Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Virginia Application September24, 1949, Serial No. 117,549

My invention relates generally to measuring or feeder valves for use in centralized lubricating systems, and more particularly to a valve of this type for use in so called'dual line or dual mani fold lubricating systems.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved measuring or feeder valve for use in dual line centralized lubricating systems for the accurate measuring and discharge of lubricant to parts requiring lubrication, in response to variations in pressure in two conduits connected to the valve.

A further object is to provide an improved measuring valve of the above mentioned type, in which the parts are moved in both directions by lubricant pressure, so that the use of return springs is not required.

- A- further object is to provide an improved measuring or feeder valve of the above mentioned type, which may be manufactured withoutemploying precision processes, and which will nevertheless function reliably to discharge accurately measured quantities of lubricant to bearings or other parts to be lubricated, upon each cycle of operation.

Other objects'will become apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a central vertical cross sectional view of the improved measuring or feeder valve;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a lubricating system employing measuring valves of the type shown in Fig. 1, and showing particularly the valve by which the flow of lubricant from the pump to the measuring valves is controlled;

3 is a central vertical sectional view of a-Jmodified form of the feeder valve; and

4 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the lubricating system employing feeder valves of the construction shown in Fig. 3.

The measuring and feeder valves 3 are adapted tobc connected in parallel, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2, to two line conduits LI and L2, each of the valves 3 being connected by a conduit 4 to a part to be lubricated, such as a bearlng G. The two valves 3 shown in Fig. 2 are intended to be representative of a large group of suchvalves connected between conduits LI and L2.

The measuring or feeder valve comprises a body In having a cylinder 12 formed therein, in which a piston I4 is reciprocable. The lower end of the cylinder i2 is closed by a plug 16 and the upper end is closed by a packing gland l8 forming azscalfor apiston stem 20, which is secured to 8 Claims. (Cl. 184-7) the piston l4. The outer end of the'stem 20 is threaded to receive a stroke adjusting sleeve nut 22 which is secured in adjusted position by a lock nut24, and serves as an indicator of the position of the piston l4.

The body I0 is also provided with a bore 26 for.

the reception of a piston valve 28, which is freely reciprocable therein, the upper end of the bore 26 being closed by a plug 30 having astop projection 3!. The upper end of the bore 26 communicates with the upper end of the cylinder 12 by way of a passageway 32 which extends through the upper end of the bore 26, and is connected to line conduit L2. The central portion of the bore 26 is connected by a duct 34 with the lower end of the bore I2, while the lower extremity of the bore 26 communicates with an enlarged bore 38 to which the discharge conduit 4 is connected. Threaded within the lower end of bore 38 is a valve cylinder fitting 40 which is connected to line conduit Ll by a coupling 42. The fitting 40 is provided with an axial bore 44 providing a cylinder in which a piston 46 is reciprocable, the piston having a stem 48 which extends upwardly and is normally in contact with a stem 50 extending downwardly from the piston 28. The bore 44 and piston valve 46 are of greater diameter than the bore 26. The end of the passageway 34 is closed by a plug 52.

As shown in Fig. 2,1ubricant is supplied to the lines LI and L2 from a suitable source 54 by a pump 56, the discharge of which is connected to an inlet port 58 of a control valve body 60. This body is provided with a valve cylinder 62 in which.

a spool valve member 64 is slidable, this valve having an annular passageway 66 which, depending upon the position of the valve 60, may connect the inlet port 58 with an outlet port 68 connected to conduit line L2, or with a port 61 to which line conduit Ll is connected. The right-hand end of the cylinder 62 is vented through ports 69- and a passageway 10 drilled axially through the valve 64, the left-hand end of the cylinder 62 being con.- nected to the reservoir 56 by a conduit 1 I.

The valve 64 has three operative positions, posi tion A shown in full lines, in which lubricant under pressure is directed to conduit L2 and the conduit Ll is vented; position B, in which lubricant under pressure is supplied to both line conduits LI and L2; and position C, in which lubricant under pressure is supplied to line conduit Ll only and conduit L2 is vented, positions B and C being indicated by the dash line showing of the end land portion of the valve. The control valve may be operated in any suitable manner, but isthe same time pushing the piston 28 upwardly until the movements of both of theseipistons arelimited by the contact of piston 28 with the projection 3| of the plug 30. Since conduit L2 is vented during this portion of the'cycle *ofoperation, the piston 28 is free to move upwardly. Since there is no substantial pressure difference on the opposite sides of piston I4, the latter will remain'inthe' position to whichit' was last moved. 'Thereafter, the control valve 64' is moved to the position B in which both conduit" lines Lil and L2 are connected to the pump 56 and are thus supplied with lubricant under pressure. the cross sectional area of the piston'46 is substantially greater than that of piston 28, these two pistons will remain in the position shown in Fig. 1. Howevensince pressure will be applied to the upper end of the cylinder I2, and since the lower end of this cylinder is connected to the bearing I6, which presumably does not offer excessive resistance to the flow of lubricant, the piston l4, together with its stem 20, will be moved downwardly to an extent limited by the adjustment of sleeve 22, and lubricant in the cylinder l2 below the piston [4 will' be discharged to the bearing.

After all of the measuring valves have operated, as may be observed from the positions of their piston stems 28, the control valve 64' is moved tothe position A, in which position lubricant under pressure is supplied only to the con-' duit L2, while the conduit L! is vented. Under these conditions, the piston '28 is moved down-' wardly, also forcing the piston 46' downwardly, until the upper end of the piston 28 moves beyond the end of the passageway 34. 'L'ubricant may then flow past the piston 28 through'the passage-- way 34 into the lower end of the cylinder {12. Of course, lubricant pressure is'alsoapplied to the upper 'endof the cylinder-l2 through the passageway 32', but because of the difierenti'al'area er;

packing gland I 8 and the lower end of the cylin der I2 is thus recharged with lubricant. A cycle of operation of the valve is thus completed, so'

that when the control valve 64 is again'moved to position 0, the pistons 46 and 28 may again be moved upwardly to their full line 'positions'and' the lubricant contained in the lower end of' the cylinder l2 discharged to the bearings when the pressure is applied to conduit line L2.

In an alternative method of operating the lubricating system, it is not necessary that the control valve 64 be moved to position C, but instead, the cycle may be considered as being com-'- menced by placing the control valve in position B,,und'er which condition the piston valves llfiand 28 will be moved to the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1, by virtue of the fact'that the effective area'of the piston46 is greater than'that" Since of the piston 28. The piston l4 will be moved downwardly to discharge lubricant to the bearing. After all of the measuring valves 3 have been operated through this portion of their cycle, as may be noted from the positions of their piston stems 20, the control valve 64 is moved to position A so that conduit L2 is connected to, the pump 56 and conduit Ll is vented.

Lubricant flowing through conduit L2 will force the piston valve 28 downwardly, the latter also moving the piston 46 downwardly. The piston 46 may move downwardly since the lower end of cylinder 44 is connected to the vented conduit Ll. When'the piston valve 28 has moved past the end of the passageway 34, lubricant may flow freely through the cylinder 26 and the passageway 34, to the'lower end of cylinder l2, forcing the piston l4 upwardly, thus to recharge the measuring valve. It 'will be understood that the operation of the lubricating system in the last described manner is contingent upon the fact that the effective area of the piston 46 is greater than that of,.theiv piston valve 26, while the system could-be oper: ated in the manner first above describedif the pistons 45 and 28 were of the same effective area. A feeder valve of the type in which the .valve pistons are of the same cross sectional area, is, shown in Figs. 3 and4. Mostof the partso'f this modified form of feeder valve are similar to those previously described with reference to Fig." 1, and similar reference characters have accordingly been applied to the corresponding parts.

As shown in Fig. 3, the feeder valve comprises a body 86 with the measuring cylinder I2 havi ng a piston 62 freely reciprocabletherein, thepiston, having a self-centering connection with apiston rod 84 which extends through ;a packing gland, 86. The body is also provided with a valve cylinder 88 which is of uniform diameter throughout its length. The ends of the bore 88 are respec-i tively connected to conduits'Ll van :l L2,,wh i1e a. passageway 96 connects the head end ofqthe, measuring cylinder I2 with the 'bore'88. mterm edi ate its ends. A pair of similar valve, pistons 92, and 93 are freely reciprocable within the bore, 88, and have reduced diameter extensions :94, 9 whi'ch'normally contact one another.

The control valve shown in Fig. 4 is supplied with lubricant under pressure throu h a conduit 96 and comprises a cylinder 98 to iwhiehconduits Li and L2 are connected. Awent conduit lfllliis connected to one end of the valve'cylinderilfl and a spool type valve I82 having a groove 104 and. a venting passageway Iflfiis reciprocable. in the valve cylinder 98 by means of'a' knob I08, this valve having three positions, indicated ibythe full and dotted line representations'o'f "the knob? I08; thepositions' bein design'ated" A, B, 'andC.

Assuming that thefeeder valve 'and sy'ste'm' have been charged with lubricant, and tha't'the parts of the feeder valve are in the position 'sliown in Fig. 3, the control 'valv'e kn'ob I98 'is' moved to position B, in which conduits L1 and Lz 'aresup" plied with lubricant under pressure. Lubricant will thus flow into the upper end ofthe meas'ur-" in'g cylinder l2, forcing the piston 82 downwardly V to discharge lubricant to the art to 'be lubflz." cated through passageway 90, theportion of the cylinder bore 88 around the reduced diameter portions'94, of the piston valves 92 93, and hence to the conduit'4: After'alli-of'th e feeder" valves connected to the system have th'u's been operated to dispense their charges to the part" to be lubricated, as will be indicated by the posi? tions of the piston stems 84, "the operator will.

5. shift the control valve knob to position C, in which position lubricant under pressure will be supplied to conduit L2 and conduit Ll will be vented. Pressure acting on the upper end of valve piston 93 will therefore force the latter, together with the valve piston 92, downwardly, until the end of the passageway 90 is uncovered by the upper end of the valve piston 93. Both ends of the cylinder I2 will therefore be connected under pressure, and due to the difierential action of the piston 82, the latter will be forced upwardly and the head end of the cylinder recharged with lubricant.

After all of the feeder valve have thus been recharged, as will be noted by the fact that their piston stems 84 are extended to the maximum distance, the operator will move the control valve knob I08 to position A, whereupon lubricant under pressure will be supplied to conduit LI and conduit L2 will be vented. The valve pistons 92, 93 will therefore be forced upwardly to complete a cycle of operation.

While I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent that numerous variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. I therefore desire, by the following claims, to include within the scope of the invention all such variations andmodiflcations by which substantially the results of my invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim:

1. A fluid measuring valve comprising means having an outlet and forming a measuring cylinder havin a rod end and a head end, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending to the atmosphere through the rod end of the cylinder, a pair of passageways for receiving fluid under pressure, means connecting the first of said passageways to the rod end of the cylinder, a two position valve device effective when in its first position to connect the two ends of the cylinder and when in its second position to connect the head end of the cylinder to the outlet, said valve device being moved to its first position by pressure of the fluid in the first passageway while the pressure in the second passageway is relieved, and piston means acted upon by fluid pressure in the second passageway to move the valve to its second position when fluid under substantially the same pressure is supplied to both of said passageways.

measuring valve comprising means having an outlet and forming a measurin cylinder having a rod end and a head end, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending to the atmosphere through the rod end of the cylinder, a pair of passageways for receiving fluid under pressure, means connecting the first of said passageways to the rod end of the measuring cylinder, a valve for alternately connecting the head end of the cylinder to the rod end thereof and to a fluid outlet, and means operated by the pressure of the fluid when supplied to both of the passageways at the same time to move the valve to one of its two alternate positions and when supplied to only the first of said passageways to move the valve to its other alternate position.

3. A measuring valve comprising means forming a measuring cylinder having a rod end and a head end, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending to the atmosphere through the rod end of the oylin der, a pair of passageways for receiving fluid under pressure, means connecting one of said passageways to the rod end of the measuring cylinder, a valve for alternately connecting the head end of the cylinder to the rod end thereof and to a fluid outlet, and means operated by the pressure of the fluid supplied alternately to the two passageways to reciprocate the valve between its two alternate positions.

4. A measuring valve comprising means forming a measuring cylinder having a rod end and a head end, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending to the atmosphere through the rod end of the cylinder, a pair of passageways for receiving fluid under pressure, means connecting one of said passageways to the rod end of the measuring cylinder, a valve for alternately connecting the head end of the cylinder to the rod end thereof and to a fluid outlet, and means operated by the pressure of the fluid supplied to the two passageways to reciprocate the valve between its two alternate positions.

5. A feeder valve for centralized lubricating systems for connection to a pair of lubricant pressure conduits in which the lubricant under pressure is alternately supplied only to the first of the conduits and then to both of the conduits,v the combination of a body having a measuring cylinder having a rod end and a head end, a piston reciprocable in the measuring cylinder and having a rod extending to the atmosphere from the rod end thereof, a passageway connecting the opposite rod and head ends of the cylinder, a duct connecting the rod end of the cylinder to the first of the lubricant supply conduits at all times, a discharge port in the body for connection to a part to be supplied with lubricant, and a twoposition valve operable in its first position to close said passageway and to connect the head end of the cylinder to the discharge port and operable in its other position to open said passageway and to cut off communication of the head end of the cylinder with the discharge port, the valve including differential piston means respectively subjected to the lubricant pressure in said conduits to operate said valve.

6. A fluid measuring device comprising means having an outlet and forming a measuring cylinder having a rod end and a head end, a piston reciprocable in the measuring cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston and extending to the atmosphere through the rod end of the cylinder, a flrst and a second passageway for receiving fluid under pressure, a valve cylinder having its ends connected to said passageways respectively, a piston valve device reciprocable in said valve cylinder, a duct connecting the head end of the measuring cylinder to the valve cylinder at a point intermediate its ends whereby the piston valve in its first position will connect the duct to the outlet and in its second position will connect the duct to the second passageway, means for supplying fluid under pressure to the first passageway only to cause the valve device to move to its first position, thereafter to supply the fluid under pressure to both passageways to cause the measuring piston to move toward the head end of the measuring cylinder and thereby discharge the fluid at the head end of the cylinder through the duct and intermediate portion of the valve chamber to the outlet, and finally, upon supplying the fluid under pressure to the second passageway only, to move the valve device to its second 'position and thereby, cause fiow =01 the; fluid f rom theksecond passageway: to the head endofthe measuring cylinder, thereby to-re-..

duit While relieving the pressure -in'said firstfline conduit, comprising means forming-a discharge port and a: measuring-cylinder having a rodend and ahead end, a piston reciprocable in saidmeasuring cylinder, a piston rod secured to said pistonandextending fromsaid cylinder, meansforconnecting the rod end of the cylinder permanently to said second line conduit, means formingiapassageway for connecting the head'endof the -cylinderto apart to be supplied W-ithlubricant, a pair-of cylinders of difierentdiameters having their opposite ends connected respectively to said first line conduit and said second line conduit, cooperating pistons in said pair of cylinders, the piston of smaller-diameter being, operable to close said .passagewayland. to connect theends of said'measuring cylinderuwhen lubricant under pressure is supplied'to said-secondline conduit-only, and operable. to open. said passagewayandto cut ofi theconnection between the'ends of said measuring cylinder when lubricant .undenpressureis supplied to-both line con duits.

8;v In 'alcentralizedlubricating system havingia source for supplying lubricant under pressure, a,

first line-conduit and-a second line conduit, the

combination of valve means connecting. said source alternately to both line conduits and to the second neicen ei onl aJubfleantieeder valve o y h vine:-a:- scherse; port and a measurin cylinder having, a rod end' and a; headend, ,a"

piston reciproeable in said cylinder, a rod on-said piston extending through the rod end of the cylinder, means connecting the rod end of said cylinderito said second line conduit, a passagewayconnecting the endsqof 'said measuring cylinder,

a duct connecting thehead end of said-measur ing cylinder to said, discharge -port,.movab1e valve means operable in-one positionto stop the-flow of lubricantthrough said passageway and oper able in another position to stop the flow of lubricantithrough saidduct, and means operable by thelubricant pressure transmitted through said second line" conduit to move said-valve means to passageway opening position-:and-toduct c1osing position when lubricant under pressurev is suppliedto said second linevconduit only, and when lubricant under pressure is supplied through both line conduits, to move-said valve,

means to passageway closing position and toduct opening position.

WALTER: SCHMID.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS,

Number Name Date 1,953,222 Gordon Apr. ,3, 1.93%

FOREIGN PATENTS" Number Country Date 475,745 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1937 

